Padres Sign Carlos Quentin

The Padres have announced the signing of Carlos Quentin to a contract extension through the 2015 season with a mutual option for 2016.

“We are very pleased to extend Carlos’ contract,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes in a statement announcing the extension. “He provides a real threat in the middle of our lineup and brings an intensity and edge to our club. As a San Diegan, he is very invested in the success of the Padres.”

The Padres did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but Corey Brock of MLB.com tweets Quentin will receive $9.5MM in 2013 and 2014, $8MM in 2015, and, if the 2016 option is picked up, $10MM. In a separate tweet, Brock reports Quentin is guaranteed a $3MM buyout of the option, if he plays over 320 games the next three years. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.com writes the deal includes a full no-trade clause, a pivotal stipulation for Quentin.

Quentin's name has popped up quite a bit in trade rumors with the outfielder drawing interest from several clubs including the Pirates, Giants, Indians, and Reds. The outfielder has looked strong this season since returning from knee surgery, hitting .273/.389/.525 with nine homers in 40 games.

In years past, the Padres' financial situation has hampered them from keeping some of their biggest stars, but San Diego was able to retain the outfielder thanks in large part to their new ownership. Both the current group and the incoming group signed off on the deal to keep Quentin in San Diego.

The Padres might not stop with a new deal for Quentin and are looking to lock up right-hander Huston Street next, according to Rosenthal. The club may just look to guarantee his $9MM mutual option for 2013 but the 28-year-old would likely prefer a multi-year pact.

Comments

its not so much that no one wants to become a FA, as it is the new CBA not giving draft pick compensation for them. Most teams wont give up good prospects with nothing in return. So we are seeing little movement in rental players.

Good points. The CBA also further disadvantages small market teams who won’t be able to afford their stars because of this erased draft pick compensation clause. That was one of the few loopholes poorer teams could use (acquiring more picks in the draft) to compete with the inflated MLB FA market.

this is also about the ballpark of money quentin could get on the FA market. josh willingham is a better player (with similar injury issues) and got less, while cuddyer is a worse but healthier player who got slightly more.

he could test the market out for more, but there’s always a chance of another injury or a slump sapping his FA value before he hit FA.

When Quentin’s 3 year deal is up, he’ll be the same age Willingham was last year. Willingham’s deal looks like a bargin, but then again his price came with the fact you were getting his 33-35 age seasons versus Quentin’s 30-32 years.

And I don’t completely understand that considering the Cubs are willing to give him to you for virtually nothing. I know he’s not great, but there are a few things he can do; there are much worse players with roster spots even on contending teams.

This is good for the Padres because they need someone who is a power threat and can mash in Petco Park. At this stage in his career Quentin will produce very good OPS and OWAR numbers. On the contrary, this is not a good deal for the Padres because a guy like Quentin is someone who gets hurt often and he isn’t the best defender or the fleetest of foot. Regardless, he gives their lineup a bit of credibility when he is right and being a California native he seems to love where he plays. They could have traded him, got prospects, and then convinced him to sign this off-season but this saves from any confusion and gets to the heart of the matter and that is having a bat who will produce in Petco. A 3 year deal that will expire when he is 32/33 at 9 million per is a risky investment to take. I hope it pays off for the Padres because Quentin definitely has power.

I’m afraid this deal may look bad after a year. I think Quentin is the kind of guy you just go with one year deals or maybe even a two year if you need to. 3/27 is too risky when you have a player who is extremely injury prone, but the Padres need bats in the worst way.

Its worth a risk. New owners should have more money and their current roster has a very low payroll commitment. Its not that much a year and they would have to pay a lot more for a comparable bat in free agency that may not want to hit in petco. Most of the team is locked up for a while, well the guys they want anyway so its not like they will have to get rid of anyone for him and its reasonable enough a team could be interested in him as a DH if need be

Couldn’t agree more with you, Michael. I’m a huge Padres fan, but I can’t help but think that this is another signing of the wrong player. He just doesn’t fit the ‘speed and defense’ team that we’ve tried to field for so many years. Especially with a defense that has underperformed so mightily this year, one that has taken us out of so many ballgames, you’d think signing a HUGE defensive liability in the outfield would be a poor choice. And that’s without even bringing into the light that he’ll likely miss 60-80 games (if we’re lucky, it will only be that much) over the course of the contract.

Hopefully, I’ll eat crow in a few years, but I just can’t stand behind this. It’s so tough to see them sign this guy and shop their best player in Chase Headley so aggressively.

Have you seen what the Padres have gotten from their LF’s in 2010 & 2011? Check that out and perhaps Quentin will be viewed in a slightly different light.

Not a bad contract when you think of the team with or without him. Basically replace Jesus Guzman in LF and the cleanup spot. They need a vet bat for the middle of the lineup with LF being the most logical spot. If it wasn’t going to be Quentin it needed to be someone like him.

It’ll be much easier for the Padres to replace him 40-50 times a year versus 162 times, and the money is perfectly fine.

Aside from the flaws in your logic (there are options between paying Quentin or playing Guzman), you’re also assuming that Quentin will keep being really good when he’s healthy. Guys who get hurt a lot can drop off quickly in their 30s.

Padres don’t have any internal options comparable to Quentin, unless Gyorko can play LF or could be groomed to play there. What other OF bats would be available come winter 2012 or 2013? And how many of them would be willing to sign to play in Petco for 9mil/year?

As for the injury history, He and the managers are conscious of his physical limitations, and I think he’s playing smarter in the OF to prevent injury, inasmuch as you can plan for it.

This deal goes beyond the box score and dollars. He also provides needed protection for the young players. Yes, obviously health is a risk with him. I’ll more than take it. Padres have lacked that thumper to protect players for years and are showing commitment to fans they want to win sooner than later.

Haha, in all fairness Kouz did put up some pretty solid power numbers during his time here. I know the FO was completely Pro-Headley once he proved he was a liability in LF, but I liked Kouz for his RH’ed power as well. He just K’ed way too much.

Not sure if the defensive metrics reflect it, but he’s been pretty good in LF from what I’ve seen of him (~15 games). Strong arm and good positioning, and every ball I’ve seen over his head (not due to misplay, mind you) he has played just about perfect.

40 games really isn’t a sample size to go on, nevermind the 15 games you’ve personally watched him. In his career, he’s been a horrid defender.

Actually standing in position is something you learn in little league. Having a good arm is nice to have – according to FanGraphs, his arm is actually below average for his career – and there’s no point to it if you have no range.

Well how about the 1.0 UZR he’s posted combined in 2011 and 2012 (158 games)? I know, I know, UZR is supposed to be viewed in three-year samples, but do you just ignore a jump of 24+ UZR from his 162 games prior? How about a DRS of 0 in 2011 (RF) and a score of -2 in 2012 (LF)? Not mind-blowing, by any stretch, but by no means horrid.

I had a very low opinion of Quentin’s defense until I saw it for myself. He’s been surprising.

Well at least 158 games is far better to compose a sample size. I did notice that he has been an average defender for a while now, and I guess I should have mentioned it since being an average fielder is a huge improvement from where he was before. We’ll have to see if he can keep that up.

But do I like the signing? If he can stay healthy, I like the signing. If he can maintain his improved defense, it’s a bargain. Can he stay healthy? Very unlikely. Can he maintain his improved defense? 158-games only equates to one season, but it leaves room for some optimism. It’s a risk, but one that has a good chance to be a steal.

Is DRS park-neutral? Don’t wanna go too far out on a limb defending Quentin (especially when I opened with his defense as being “good” rather than “better than all of my expectations”), but I do feel he gets a bit of a bum rap.

Great sign!Quentin is a gamer.Even if Quentin only plays 100-120games a year I still like this deal.Hes a good prescence in this lineup and a proven power hitter.Next year will be a little different knowing there will be an interleague series every series. So Quentin can be the DH to rest his knees or whatever on those days.Keep Deno as 4th OF!!!We need him for days that Quentin needs to rest.

Why would you lock up a 30-year old who’s never played more than 131 games in a season? That’s not something that gets better in a guy’s 30s. I like most of what the Padres front office is doing, but I don’t buy this, and locking up Street wouldn’t be smart either.

People wonder why the Padres are a Long way from competing. Giving $30 MM to an oft-injured DH? That makes me shake my head so hard I need a doctor. Now, they are probably going to try to re-sign Street, who will presumably get $6 MM a year. Waste of money for both imo. Both are replacable with homegrown talent, and could be traded for more assets.

Only thing you understand is YOU need a Dr. Quentin is a leader is goes a 100% all the time, that’s why he’s been injured so much. The padres are super young and have an extremely deep farm. Quentin is the guy that’s going to show them how to play by example. 9 mill for your middle of the order is cheap compared to other teams; but what mlbtraderumor posters can’t equate is the intangibles.

Good for the Friars. With new ownership coming in and approving this deal it shows other potential FA’s on the market that the O’Malley family might finally spend a little to field a better team. I know old ownership is still in place but the new group did have some say in this deal I am sure. Regardless of the cash spent, age or any other factor, this is more about team commitment than anything else. Nice job San Diego.

The padres asking price for headley has been said to be literally the highest on the market this trade deadline. That means they aren’t going to let him go unless they’re getting a return like they did in the Latos trade. If you get a deal like Marte and Heredia from the pirates or Cole, Choice and Peacock from the A’s you can’t turn that down. I’m not against keeping Headley, but if other teams are willing to throw multiple top 100 prospects at the padres for him they should take it while his value is high because between Forsythe, Darnell and Gyorko someone will be able to put up decent numbers at third base.

Also I’m not saying that any other teams are willing to give up this much for Headley, so he might not get traded. Realistically though the padres should still be targeting prospects in the high levels of the minors that will be ready for the big leagues next year when they might have a shot at contending.

Replaceability:Carlos Quentin is a big upgrade from recent Padres left fielders (Gerut, Hairston, Ludwick) and I find it very hard to believe signing a hitter of his talent to play at Petco Park would be as simple as some of you are implying. For moneyball junkies, you generally expect to pay 4-5 million per WAR, and Quentin generally expects to give you 2-3 WAR, even at only 110 games/year. Insert Chris Denorfia on the Carlos Quentin off/dL days and you’re getting solid left field production.
Team structure:The Padres have been building a team based on speed, line drive hitters and great defensive ability. Carlos Quentin fits none of these categories (I consider him more of a fly ball hitter then consistent line drive hitter). However, neither do many Padres prospects who are knocking on the Major League door. And honestly, if they were, we still have a position in right field that could easily be won over Will Venable (Chris Denorfia is a solid 4th outfielder in my opinion, therein lies his value). Carlos Quentin provides a thumper who you can plug into that number 4 spot and not be embarrassed. As Padres fans can attest, that is NOT something we often have.
Conclusion:Those that dislike the contract so adamantly surely have a better option for the Padres in left field. You have 27 million dollars to spend, explain to me what you would have done with the 27 million dollars to make the Padres better than they are by signing Carlos Quentin (as that is the ultimate goal). Promoting from within would not make them better (it would save them money, but not make them better). Trading their assets (young prospects) might make them better, but only for a short time. Signing a different, better left fielder for the same price in the offseason seems unlikely. So, to me, it seems like an… Okay deal.

The point of trading away Simon Castro and another prospect for Quentin to begin with was the understanding that the Friars were going to resign him. I am sure Byrnes asked around to see what he would get for Quentin but now under the CBA, no one wants rental players for half a year. I am happy ownership is starting to spend money. So i agree completely. Okay deal.

But I feel the need to address multiple audiences because there are people who like quantitative measurement, and those who say you can eschew the statistics any way you want them. WAR is far from perfect, but I like to use it as a reference.

Using only WAR or money ball stats doesnt mean you are valuing performance properly its just one way to do it. If it was the end all be all Oakland would be a lot better than they have been. You have to use everything to actually value someone properly. That means advance stats, real stats, and what you see. If you only use WAR youre just taking a one dimensional look.

Not a slur. A slur is derogatory. I myself am a “moneyball junky.”
But I feel the need to address multiple audiences because there are people who like quantitative measurement, and those who say you can eschew the statistics any way you want them. WAR is far from perfect, but I like to use it as a reference.

Quentin
2009: -0.5 war2010: 0.0 war2011: 2.6 warAverage WAR: 0.7 per season
He hasn’t played 110 games. He has not had more than 103 games in the field since 2008 and he has not had more than 83 complete games because of his horrendous defense.
The deal is for a minimum of $30 million.2013 – $9.52014 – $9.52015 – $8.0$3 million buyout for 2016 option
Where are you getting YOUR numbers?

Considering he only plays 2/3 of any given season, $30 million to Quentin is not the same as $30 million to a player that can actually take the field every game.
You have to realize that Quentin is more expensive than his salary because someone has to play the 60+ games he wont play due to injuries and the 180+ innings per season when he is pulled for a defensive replacement and you have to pay them too.
As it is his salary is 15+ percent of the Padres projected payroll for 2013.
At his current hitting pace he will end the season at .232 ba and 16-17 home runs. What is a .232 hitter worth?
Even if he ends up with 18 home runs, what is he worth really?

Seems pretty clear that Quentin wanted to stay in San Diego for the long term, which makes me wonder why the Padres don’t just flip him for a package of prospects in a good seller’s market, and then just sign him again as a free agent in the off season.

Seems like he’s made it pretty clear that he’s happy in San Diego and enjoys playing for his home town team. Seems likely that if he was willing to take that deal now, he would be willing to take it again in 3 months.

With this move done, the padres should turn their attention to a deal that ships Headly out and potentially brings in Upton. This guy is clearly not valued highly by KT and still is young and has time to turn it around. A straight up deal will never happen, but perhaps a 3 team trade with the pads throwing in at top 10 guy would be awesome, What do you guys think?

I’m thinking that the Pads should be all about signing Headley to a 3-4 year deal. Keep the core together to make a run at playoffs. Already have Maybin, Luebke and Hundley signed. Pads have Alsonso, Grandal, Amarista, Cabrera and the whole pitching staff that are all arb eligible or pre arb eligible. Trade Venable and Street if he wont sign an extension in the next week to get a young starting pitcher or RF. Now is the time to go for it, not trade your best player.

This is where I disagree, While i love the way Headley has become a leader, I think if we need to capitalize on his value now, because I am of the opinion, that it will never get higher. As a local padres fan, and a 20 game season ticket holder, I have noticed Headly’s lack of ability to hit in clutch situations. Responding to what you said, neither Venable, nor Street are going to net you a starting right fielder or a very good young starter. There is just not enough value there. Lets keep talking